Adventures In Coronavirus Land, Episode 1

Since this is going to be changing on a daily basis, even though I'm not going to keep posting that often, I'm going to  "date mark" these postings by the world as we know it now, followed by personal status and observations.

Latest - not number counts, because who can keep up? - is it's spreading in the US, and so many times along the way to here, so much has been botched in terms of not only treatments, tests and quarantines, but also "information" from sources either in the know or having the idiot mindset that believes saving face is primary (think Trump, natch), that the "panic" is spreading.

Reason and unreason are fighting for supremacy. Some 38% of us will avoid Corona beer, as if there were any possible connection other than fear of a name, and completely disregarding the alcohol content of the beer which would squelch any contagious particles which may have attempted to squeeze their way inside the bottles before capping, might COVID 19 have even been in the country when they were capped. Seriously: how stupid are we? (Oh wait, we have Trump in office. Nevermind.)

Information from actual health sources state that 15% of those who contract it may end up in the hospital. That's assuming there will be room in the hospitals, since they've been operating on a cash-flow basis to eliminate empty beds for a couple decades now. That's what for-profit healthcare gets us.

It will strike my generation hardest. Of the estimated 3+ % who are expected to die, those will also be concentrated in my generation. I still have things I want to do, but I've been lucky enough to have really enjoyed my last few years, and am particularly happy being with Steve. So I'm not panicking - yet - but am keeping as informed as possible.

There may be a bright spot on the horizon. When this hits the lungs, even those who survive, live with permanent lung damage. Shortness of breath, limited activities, O2... and no doubt susceptibility to whatever next thing happens. OK, where's the bright spot in that, you ask? The possibility of treating patients with meds developed for AIDS patients is being investigated, and early word (rumors?) is they are in process and stop the lung damage in its tracks. We'll see. Of course, this raises the question, even if it is a dependable treatment, of both its availability and cost. Particularly in our health system. Can we afford to live? Who chooses where it gets distributed? Will we allow the cost to skyrocket just because of demand and some sociopath who sees a profit? It's happening elsewhere, if you haven't been unlucky enough to notice.

So, personal observations and reactions:

I went shopping last night at WalMart. I needed bar soap for the shower. I had Zest on my mind, as it saves water by not requiring extra rinsing. I settled for Irish Spring. No Zest on the shelf. No Dial. No anything antibacterial (hey, virus ain't bacteria folks!). My search had led me through both grocery and pharmacy departments. Grocery aisles were devoid of hand sanitizer, as expected. Empty shelves bore price tags for Lysol and similar products, bleaches, bleach wipes, anything that held hope of avoiding contagion for the shoppers. Pharmacy was also sold out of rubbing alcohol and a host of other products. I admit, this was late in the evening. Stock pallets were sprawled all over, blocking easy passage  down the aisles, so maybe only the shelves were out of stock and more product was stored in the back. Maybe.

My particular searches did not take me to all the places where overheard discussions had listed experiences by relatives and friends around the country of lack of water, paper products, certain food staples, or anything else needed for everybody's assumed future quarantines. But then, Arizona has only 2 known cases right now, and both persons are in quarantine, with any known contacts monitored. Not tested yet, but monitored. Maybe next week there will be a better supply of test kits.

Maybe it'll rain here too.

I had a chat with another woman I knew from the club when I ran into her in a different part of town this morning. She, with her extended family, have planned a trip with her church to Israel for later this month. Outlay thus far, $27,000. Two of the excursions once there have been canceled. No refunds available. Air travel involves a transfer to another airline after crossing the pond, but that airline canceled, again no refund. She contacted the first airline to see if she could cancel that, just checking out options, and the only thing they offered was rebooking within 7-9 days of the scheduled trip.

The family is still trying to figure out what to do. One son suggested they go anyway, find other events for their itinerary. (Not sure about that second leg of the flight.) Then the question arose: would they be allowed to return to the US after the trip? His comment was that this country "would never leave any of us stranded in a foreign country."

Hmmm, has he paid attention to Trump? Maybe Cheetolini has a hunch about this too, eh?

Is the son talking about the Marines or something? Because I know they never leave anybody behind, but ordinary folk? Under these circumstances? Or was he just assuming they'll be let back but quarantined? She has spoken to another friend who's been quarantined after one of those cruise ships, and said conditions here were terrible. No real healthcare, not enough food or water.... The term used was "concentration camp."

So reassuring.... NOT.

On a more personal level, Steve and I are planning a major trip hitting national parks on both the way north and others on the way south this summer. So far, besides a visit with his brother's family, Monument Valley, Moab area and Arches, Yellowstone, Greeley area and Rocky Mountain, Teddy Roosevelt, Glacier, and whatever else strikes our fancy. But what will be open then? We had been thinking kind of a "last chance tour", going while health held and budget could deal, but we hadn't thought of last chance in the way it now might be.

I previously mentioned a couple of punch biopsies. I had wondered whether they might reveal something else that would make me more susceptible to anything. Luckily, results came back today. There were a long, complicated couple of words for what I have, but those were drowned out by just one: "benign." Long sigh. Anyway, the medication she put me on should do the trick for whatever it is called.

So, questions galore, answers perhaps to come. That's why I called this "Episode 1." Meanwhile, I just got introduced to a new jewelry pattern this morning....